The Mailbag.

First, I've decided to answer my first piece of "fan" mail.
Not just because it is good to give these people some airtime to make things interesting and "balanced," but because it sets a precedent on how I will deal with certain things in the future.

Names and locations have been changed, because, unlike others, I value some semblance of privacy and decency.

The rest of the content of the submitted editorial remains unaltered.


Easton: Look in Mirror
While Middleground school Superintendent Hank Easton complains annually for more money, his bank account sure doesn't. His overpriced, $250,000 salary could hire almost 10 new teachers for the Middleground School District.

School taxes have more than doubled over the past 10 years Easton has been in command. Although significant improvements have been made, is the school system twice as good? Not even close. Depending who you ask, the situation is worse, especially in terms of preparing students for college.

I hope one day Easton looks in the mirror and realizes how many foreclosures he has caused indirectly by not budgeting within the district's means, and that he himself has caused poverty in his own district that he uses as a perpetual soapbox to stand on.

No, Mr. Easton, asking the state or federal government for more money is not the answer. They will just raise taxes again themselves and make people even poorer as a result.

You can teach a kid high school kid algebra with a 99-cent notebook and a 25-cent pencil if the kid is interested, motivated, and the teacher is decent. High school education results are more of an American culture problem than a money problem.

The same could be said to the teacher's union and Mr. Easton. Stop being so greedy and think of all the great things we still have that others don't- before we don't.

Georges Pompidou
2001 MHS alumus
Middleground

I picked this particular missive for a reason: it is rife with so many misrepresentations and so much misinformation that I almost don't know where to start. I do, though. I'll address it point-by-point.

1) I used the opportunity offered to me to become a spy 4 years ago to expose misconduct, corruption, and to help bridge the partisan gridlock with workable, real solutions before the country reached the point of no return. This liaison/laser-like focus work was done on a volunteer basis. I am going to operationally define the word "volunteer" for you, so that you are no longer disoriented, get confused, or spread misinformation.

2) That being said, I always have, and still do "work for free." Any large sum of money coming my way is called "damages" for unethical, unwanted, invasive, and frankly inhumane treatment that I've had to deal with. It's as if I was just walking down the street to grab a hoagie at a place highly recommended by Person A, minding my own business, and was assaulted and had my clothes ripped off by Person B. Then, I was awarded damages. Then you have the gall to call me a stripper? If there's a better analogy, it escapes me. When you are hoodwinked, you are hoodwinked.

3) If I were greedy, I would have sued the pants off of the hospital I was admitted to last year when I had a near-lethal scrape with lithium toxicity and suffered physical trauma as result, just like everyone was telling me to. Alas, I didn't. It's called class. They deal with this stuff on a daily basis, and they are compassionate people. I'm sure it wasn't intentional. (I almost certainly would not have had that episode had I followed the doctor's instructions and stayed hydrated, but nearly unpredictable factors like a heat wave and a windowless room with no circulation created a perfect storm situation. As a matter of fact, I just plain stopped taking Lithium after this happened. Why? My family asked me to, and I honored that request.) I am alive, and I am thankful.

Also, you know what? I feel that I can give money away better than the government can. Especially to the poor, neighborhoods, schools, and causes that are near and dear to me.

My time to the sick and afflicted is priceless (Who can put a price on their health?), but it is free. There are few things in life that bring me more joy than petitioning the Lord on someone else's behalf for restored health. Or even bringing them back to their loved ones, and giving them a new lease on life.

I receive SSD benefits because I qualify for them (I wonder why?).
And guess what?
I ask not for another dime from the state.
In fact, I could repay it all and then some.

My complaint (Shared by many, it is almost unanimous.) is that "the rent is too damn high."
I don't care who you are, but $25 a week would have anyone a little miffed.

I am re-arranging my life to remedy this problem, and I'm surely not demanding anything more of the state.

4) You know just where to send your sour grapes about the "perpetual soapbox" that you complain about. Same place I did. Nothing changes. Unless you have some sort of hookup and can get it done immediately. Until then, you're just going to have to wait like everyone else. (Just so you know, this is MUCH, MUCH more than a soapbox, as I have told you before, and will show you again later. It's a tripod.)

Hopefully there will be less envy and cheap potshots against hardworking volunteers, because hopefully these bitter individuals will be prosperous in their own right. Why? Because that person they kept taking cheap shots at actually followed through and did the lion's share in pushing through meaningful change.

Thanks for taking the time to write.

-Yours Truly

Now that I've got that out of the way, some useless/useful information that held some significance to me.

The other day, as I was going through a shoebox-sized plastic box of old mementos, including old pay stubs from McDonald's, old letters from my retired 5th grade teacher, and mix cd lists amongst other things, I found some old leftover patches and badges from my days in Scouts. I found my Quartermaster badge (Along with my previous position badges such as Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader.) I also found the only three merit badges I had earned, as I was mostly into it for the brotherhood and companionship. They were the Rifle, First Aid, and Citizenship in the World merit badges.

Interesting factoids.


Before I finish, it's time to get down to justification, or being seen right in the sight of God.
The first step is listening to Him.
Without it, it is a hopeless endeavor.
He is omnipotent, omnipresent, all-wise, doesn't play politics, doesn't form cliques, etc.
People do these things, not God.

 Isaiah 30: 26-32

Here, the Hebrew word for "name," "shem" (pronounced "shame") was given to be synonymous with "fame" or "reputation," according to Mr. James Strong's Biblical concordance. We could just as easily add "pull," "weight," "power", or "influence" here.

He is the Shepherd of my Soul.
He is in Paradise as we speak.
Notice that geographical boundaries do not stop him from carrying out the duties of a shepherd.
Nor does the world stop spinning simply because he is currently physically not with us.
He does not have to be.

Isaiah 11

His power and influence, even from a distance, is an unbelievably heavy burden.
Anyone speaking for him? They just might turn into a flamethrower.



Isaiah 29
Jeremiah 30
Isaiah 30: 18-23 


We all like a bit of certainty in an uncertain time of rumor and fear mongering.
The American family deserves it.
It is a right, not a privilege.

We are stronger united than we are balkanized, confused, and angry.
Our best days are yet ahead.

Until next time, as I am working on a work that weaves fairly well into this one.